The 2020 NHL draft is set to take place Tuesday and Wednesday. While the event is always exciting because we get to see where hundreds of young players will continue their development as hockey players, it's also usually the setting for massive trades.
With the event taking place virtually this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that means general managers will not be sitting within shouting distance from one another on the ground level of an NHL barn. Does that mean there will be fewer trades? We sure hope not, given the number of potential trade candidates out there.
Here are the players we have heard could be on the move, along with possible trade packages and destinations.
More: Get caught up on all the preview content for the 2020 NHL draft here.
Jump ahead:
Matt Murray | Patrik Laine
Oliver Ekman-Larsson | Alex Killorn
Jack Eichel | Matt Dumba
Matt Murray, G, Pittsburgh Penguins
Why he could get traded: Beside the fact that GM Jim Rutherford has telegraphed this trade quite a few times, we know that something must budge when it comes to the Penguins' goaltending situation. Murray and Tristan Jarry, who were both tapped as Marc-Andre Fleury's successors at various points, are both restricted free agents, and the team can likely keep only one around, particularly as there are reports that Pittsburgh now has an internal salary cap by which it must abide. The Penguins also lucked out last season when nobody claimed Casey DeSmith off of waivers, meaning he's still in the organization and ready to step up as the No. 2 in 2020-21.
Though Murray was a key piece of two Stanley Cups for Pittsburgh, he has battled injuries and has performed below average in two of the past three seasons. It would behoove both the team and the 26-year-old to each get fresh starts.
Possible destination/trade package: Murray, defenseman Jack Johnson and a fifth-round pick to the Ottawa Senators for a second-round pick.
The Penguins were initially seeking a first-round pick for Murray, but that seems unrealistic given the saturated market. That said, Jake Allen fetched a third-round pick to be Carey Price's backup, and Murray should be worth more than that. The Senators have around $43 million in cap space and have already told 39-year-old Craig Anderson that they're going in a different direction. The cap space is important because it means they can take on Johnson's contract to get to the cap floor -- and help Pittsburgh further refurbish its roster.
The Senators have four second-round picks in 2020 so they wouldn't mind giving one up, while the prospect-depleted Penguins desperately could use some future ammo; Pittsburgh is currently without a first- or second-round pick in this year's draft, nor does it have a first-round pick in 2021. -- Emily Kaplan
Patrik Laine, RW, Winnipeg Jets
Why he could get traded: On the surface, it seems wild that the Jets would be willing to part with Laine. The No. 2 pick of the 2016 draft is only 22 and already one of the league's top goal scorers, with 138 goals in just 305 career games. However, the Finn has only one year remaining on his contract at $6.25 million, plus restricted free-agent rights, and the Jets are prioritizing cost certainty (which they have with several other forwards, including Kyler Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, who are all on the books through at least 2023-24). Plus, Winnipeg has other areas it feels it needs to improve on, and the value on Laine might never be higher.
Possible destination/trade package: Laine to the Carolina Hurricanes for defenseman Brady Skjei, a 2020 second-round pick and a 2021 third-round pick.
There are a few teams in the Metropolitan Division who are sniffing around on Laine, but the Canes make the most sense. Carolina is always looking to upgrade its scoring, and has an excess of quality NHL defensemen, which is something the Jets crave after their blue-line turnover last season. The Jets would likely ask for Brett Pesce first, but the Canes are probably unwilling to part with one of their favorite young defensemen (who is at a reasonable $4.025 million cap hit through 2023-24).
Instead, the Jets will settle for Skjei, who came over from the Rangers last season. Skjei is only 26 and also has term on his contract -- he'll earn $5.25 million per season through 2023-24 -- which is attractive to the Jets. Draft picks sweeten the deal, and Carolina might not mind giving up the second-rounder considering it has two in the second round this year. It's a hefty price for Carolina, but just imagine the potential of Laine skating with countryman Sebastian Aho on the top line. -- Kaplan
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D, Arizona Coyotes
Why he could get traded: New Arizona general manager Bill Armstrong takes over a franchise that was bumping its head against the salary cap ceiling this season and hasn't gotten much to show for it -- a qualification-round series victory over the Nashville Predators aside. Ekman-Larsson, 29, is in the second season of an eight-year contract that carries an $8.25 million cap hit annually. He's one of the team's most coveted commodities as a puck-moving defenseman, and his lack of impact on the score sheet has been excused by some observers as a symptom of playing for an underachieving team.
Possible destination/trade package: Ekman-Larsson to the Boston Bruins for defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, forward Anders Bjork, a 2021 first-round pick and 2020 third-round pick. Coyotes retain $500,000 in salary through 2027.
The defenseman has a no-movement clause and thus controls his next destination. Boston is on his list of places for which he'd potentially waive it. Grzelcyk, 26, is a puck-moving restricted free agent with upside. Bjork, 24, is signed through 2023 at $1.6 million average annual value. The third-rounder this season would be the highest pick the Coyotes would make -- that's a whole different story -- while the first-rounder in 2021 would allow Armstrong to make his mark, as he has to sit this draft out per the terms of his release from the St. Louis Blues to take the job. -- Greg Wyshynski
Alex Killorn, C, Tampa Bay Lightning
Why he could get traded: The champagne puddles hadn't even dried up in the Florida sun when Lightning GM Julien BriseBois had to face the reality of his offseason. "Even though I'd like to bring this whole group back to defend our title, the reality is that I can't do that. The cap just doesn't allow that to happen. This year, the turnover is going to require that some of our players, that have been here for a while and that just helped us win a championship, aren't going to be returning. I'm going to have to move on from those players," he said on Thursday, the morning after Tampa Bay's boat parade.
Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy's cap hit jumps by $4 million to $9.5 million starting next season. BriseBois said it's a priority for the team to re-sign forward Anthony Cirelli and defensemen Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak, all of whom are restricted free agents. In order to do that, and to protect against the specter of an offer sheet, he needs to clear out some veteran players.
Centers Tyler Johnson ($5 million AAV through 2024) and Yanni Gourde ($5,166,666 AAV through 2025) would seem the likeliest candidates to be moved, but both of them have no-trade clauses. Killorn, who makes $4.45 million through 2023, has a partial no-trade clause, making the 31-year-old winger and jet-ski enthusiast a prime candidate for relocation.
Possible destination/trade package: Killorn and the Philadelphia Flyers' 2020 third-round pick (No. 85) to the Colorado Avalanche for forward Matt Calvert and their 2020 first-round pick (No. 25).
Purely spitballing here, but this would help both clubs. Killorn brings championship experience and the kind of bottom-six play the Avalanche can still use more of even as they've gotten deeper. He plays in every situation, and while shooting 20% again is a stretch, getting over 20 goals wouldn't be a shock for Killorn. The Avalanche have over $22 million in cap space but have only 14 players under contract. Moving Calvert ($2.85 million AAV) helps absorb Killorn's hit this season and gives Tampa Bay a veteran checker with an expiring contract after next season. The Lightning would save $1.6 million on the cap next season and then he comes off the books. It also gives the Lightning a first-rounder that they currently lack.
There are probably a bunch of ways to make this work, but I like the fit between Killorn and the Avalanche for what he brings and what they need. Plus, Colorado has some lovely lakes for jet skiing. Or maybe he can trade his SeaDoo for a SkiDoo. -- Wyshynski
Jack Eichel, C, Buffalo Sabres
Why he could get traded: I know it sounds wild, but the scouting community has been abuzz with rumors that Eichel could be on the move. Even though there have been public denials that it will happen, there's at least a conversation that can be had. It would have to be the other team coming to Buffalo with something that would blow the Sabres away, and there are so few teams that can actually do that.
Is this likely? No. But the reason sources around the league believe it could be possible is the desire for Buffalo to slash salary in the longer term, getting away from the cap ceiling but staying above the floor. That, on top of Eichel's impatience with the situation in Buffalo, could make bring it closer to happening. Plus, if there is a window of opportunity to get max value, it might be now.
Possible destination/trade package: The team most frequently tied to Eichel is the New York Rangers. The package would have to include the No. 1 overall pick and the No. 22 pick, and the Rangers would obviously have to shed some salary, too. Restricted free agent Tony DeAngelo would be an option, as that's money the Rangers wouldn't have to spend next season. There might also need to be additional sweeteners in the form of midrange prospects and perhaps another NHL player such as fellow pending restricted free agent Ryan Strome.
I don't think there are many Buffalo fans who would have an appetite for any move that sends one of the best centers in the league away. This is a move that makes sense only if the internal mandate is that ownership is unwilling or unable to provide the resources necessary to continue to build around Eichel and shorten a timeline to competitiveness. If not, perhaps yet another new direction is in the best long-term interest of the franchise by trying to get a massive draft haul and kick the can a little further down the road when it comes to competitiveness. I'm not saying it's a good thing, just the reason why the rumors have been flying -- and will continue. -- Chris Peters
Matt Dumba, D, Minnesota Wild
Why he could get traded: Wild GM Bill Guerin is already starting to retool a roster that has been fairly stagnant for far too long. Dumba is a player on whom Guerin has to take calls, because he's the most movable defenseman on his team for two reasons: He doesn't have any trade protection and he'd also be a potential expansion draft risk. On top of that, Dumba has as much value as any defenseman on their roster, given the three seasons remaining on his current contract with a very manageable $6 million annual cap hit.
Guerin does not have to move Dumba, which gives him the ability to be patient and wait for the right offers. As teams need to find ways to become more flexible under the flat cap, those opportunities could present themselves sooner than later, however. The Wild need help down the middle, though, and there might be a few teams out there that can entice them with a good offer.
Possible destination/trade package: One of the most intriguing options for Minnesota would be exploring a one-for-one deal with the Calgary Flames. Sean Monahan has a similar dollar value, at $6.35 million AAV, and he's pretty much automatic to approach or surpass 30 goals just about every season. Calgary has a need on right defense, and Dumba could give the Flames a scoring boost from the back end.
The Flames have also been one of the teams that is constantly rumored to be looking to shake up its core a little bit. If it's not Monahan, would the Flames consider dealing Johnny Gaudreau? It might be pie-in-the-sky thinking, but Guerin has hinted that he wants to be fairly aggressive in retooling his team. And who doesn't love a good old-fashioned hockey trade? -- Peters